“Hygrophorus” was just the best name we had at the moment. We knew (especially, Steve Trudell knew) that this was something unusual. It just had to wait for someone to work on it … and for Noah to help along the way. He spoiled some of the fun though: I can imagine how surprised I would have been with these cystidia in front of me and without any knowledge about Cantharocybe.

Just as you say, cheilo info suffices here; and true, I couldn’t see any spores.